Resilient closure for containers



Sept. 23, 1952 w. F. SMITH RESILIENT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS 2SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed July 5, 1946 FIG.

1N VENTOR.

W. F. SMITH RESILIENT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Sept. 23, 1952 Filed July5, 1946 4 AS A\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ A. z1 z FIGIO FIGIZ FIG. ll

FEM-

FIG.I3

IN VENTOR.

metering effect as to the amount of material dispensed. This embodimentis of particular utility in the dispensing of spices and the likewherein it is desired to dispense a predetermined amount of material asa measure. For example, one vigorous squeeze of the container may equalonefourth teaspoon, etc. Moreover, th thickened portions employed inthis" embodiment broke up materials which tend to lump inthe container.

In Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 still another modified form of containe isillustrated. In this embodiment, a preformed resilient body member 23 isprovided with a concave bottom 24 and a pair of indentations 25 and 26.A convex, resilient closure 21' having a shoulder 28 and a flange 29 isaffixed to the body member 23. A pair of protrusions 30 and 3| arecarried by th flange 29. These protrusions 30 and 3! are compatible withthe indentations 25 and 2S and when the shoulder engages the top of thebodymember 23 they come into register with each otherto provide alocking relationship. A valve slit comprising a longitudinal slit 32abutted by transverse slits 33 and 34. is provided in the top of theclosure 21. A portion of the closure on each side of the slits istapered so that the slits have sharp meeting surfaces. A wedge-shapedelement 35 and awedgeshaped element 36 are provided on each side of thelongitudinal slit 32 and extend inwardly. The elements 35 and-36 serveas reinforcing means for the valve slit. When the body member 23 issqueezed, the valve slit opens as heretofore illustrated and theelements 35 and 36 cause the valve slit to open and limit theamount ofopenin by contact with each other. In this embodiment the material ofthe body member along the longitudinal slit is of suificient thicknessto withstand anytendency of distortion. Moreover, thelcon cave bottom 24is formed to be compatible with at least a portion of the closure of asimilar container as represented by 31. Thisembodiment is ofparticularly utility in the dispcnsingof comminuted materials suchasspices wherein it is desired to stack the containers for display or Thisembodiment is of particular utility wherein it is desired to affix theclosure to a soft container body such as paper and the like.

In Fig. 13 and Fig. 1 4,;a convex, resilient, closure.-

4| is illustrated. This closure, likewise, is similar in construction tothe closure illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, with the exception, thatin'this embodiment the closure 4] has an annular, bifurcation having itsinterior branch 42 provided W -a P o..- truslon 43 and having itsexterior, branch 44 ter-,

These sharp edged projections 40. lock the closure to acontainer bodywhich is relatively softer than the, sharp edged; projections.

minating near the upper portion of the protrusion. The lower edges 45and 4 6 of th branches being tapered upwardly and inwardly toward eachother to facilitate engagement with a container body represented by 41.ment when the closure 4| is aflixed to the container body 41, theprotrusion 43 is in register with the bead 48 on the container body andthe wall of the container body is held between the branches 42 and 44 toinsure atight seal. This embodiment is of particular utility in thedispensing of pulverulent materials such as tooth powders, bath powders,and similar substances, wherein it is desired to employ a resilient,metal container body.

The principles of the present invention are applicable for manufacturingcontainers for dispensing a variety of materials which may be used for avariety of purposes. For example, for salt and pepper a shaking actionis desirable, for sugar a combined shaking and pouring action, for bathand baby powders acombined shaking and vigorous squeeze action tosquirtthe powder, for tooth powder a vigorous squeeze action to deposit ameasured amount on the-toothbrush, for spices a shaking or vigoroussqueeze action to give a-measured amount, for insecticides a vigoroussqueeze actionto squirt the insecticide in crevices and the like, forliquids a pouring or shaking action, for semiliquids or pastes a firmsqueezing action, etc; Therefore, it is evident that various changes inthe specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope ofthe claims with-. out departing from the spirit of the inventions,

As hereinbefore set forth the material of construction for the closureor the combination closure with container body is a resilient material.

However, this is not to be construed as precluding the use of othermaterials of construction in combination with means for providing .thedesiredresiliency. The preferred materials of construc:

tion for the; closure are the thermoplastic resins. particularlypolyethylene, cellulose. acetate,- and ethyl cellulose. Thesematerials-are also. preferred when the closure and container body aremolded integrally. When the closureis afiixed to a container body, anyof 'the materials conventionally used, such as p per and metal, maybeemployedproviding they impart the required resiliency.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the} valve slit prevent largegranules of comminuted material from being caught in the jaws of thevalve; slit. upon closing. The. thickened wedge shaped portions on eachside of the longitudinal slit-provide a crushing surface for materialtending to lump as 'well as providing means for dispensing apredetermined amount ofvmaterials Containers employing the principleof-this invention may be filled from'the bottom, even under pressure,-because the fulcrumed action involved causes the valve slit toclosetighter as internal pressure within the container is increased;Thus,

In this embodi-.

a thin membrane such as a lacquer coating may be applied over the valveslit to provide an absolute hermetical sea1 without danger of the sealrupturing due to container breathing. This is particularly advantageousin connection with the packaging of materials containing highly volatileconstituents, such as a perfume. The thin membrane is, of course,ruptured by the first manipulation of the user, but it is the periodbetween manufacture and use during which the qualities of the productmust be carefully preserved as this period may be of indefinite length.Containers employing the principle of this invention may be used asshake-type or sprinkle-type containers and as squirt-type containers bysimple manipulation.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure for containers comprising a resilient body member, alongitudinal valve slit in the top oi the body member abutted by atransverse slit on each end, and said bodymember having two sidewallswith two opposed Wedge-shaped reinforcing members extending inwardlyfrom the top of the body member downwardly along its respective sidewalland each with the apex of the wedge located adjacent its respective sideof the valve slit, said opposed wedge-shaped reinforcing members beingin spaced relationship to each other whereby the lower portion of eachof the wedge-shaped reinforcing members is capable of contacting theother upon squeezing said sidewalls to open the valve slit.

2. A closure for containers com-prising a resilient body member, alongitudinal valve slit in the top or the body member abutted by atransverse capable of contacting the other to crush any lumpy materialdisposed therebetween upon squeezing said sidewalls to open the valveslit.

WILLIAM F. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,647,215 Elsas NOV. 1, 19272,005,642 Thornton June 18, 1935 2,128,752 Lentine Aug. 30, 19382,176,513 Smith Oct. 17, 1939 2,219,604 Trotter Oct. 29, 1940 r2,254,168 Dale Aug. 26, 1941 2,272,653 Andrews Feb. 10, 1942 2,314,052Perelson Mar. 16, 1943 2,331,078 Peak Oct; 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date Great Britain Aug. 30, 1939

